We Explain Things

WE EXPLAIN THINGSWhy the Future of Our Profession is Solid.

A FEAR STALKS OUR PROFESSION

Fear that the profession is dying. Fear that documentation is going away. Fear that users see less and less need

for documentation in any form. Not True!

WHAT DRIVES THIS PERCEPTION?

Documentation gets smaller as common features become universally known. Example: “How to Use a Mouse.”

Drives to improve user interface to make systems “more intuitive.”

Continued perception that docs are of no value.

IS THIS A NEW PHENOMENON?

J.M. Barrie and Ronald Moore both had it right:

“All of this has happened before, and it will happen again.”

EVERYTHING COMES IN CYCLES

Jerzy Kosinski: “Being There” Things run in cycles Cycles by definition mean return But cycles have highs and lows

OUR PROFESSION IS NOT NEW

Joseph Champline was not the first technical writer, and we didn’t start with the “high technology” era

We’ve seen several “ages” in the evolution of technical communication

Let’s first look backwards…

THE AGE OF RADAR

THE AGE OF INDUSTRY

A GUIDE TO TECHNICAL WRITING - 1908

THE AGE OF DISCOVERY

THE AGE OF MESOPOTAMIA

THE AGE OF STONE

IS IT HAPPENING NOW?

Mother of All Demos was December 1968

DARPANET first deployed October 1969 Sea change in technology began in the

1970s but did not peak until years later

SO WHAT’S NEXT?

Mobile: Technical communicators overlap into development with quick and easy applications

Video: Make it visual, but do it right. 1 minute of video = 1 hour of production = 1 page of script

FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS

Commercial space picking up speed High vacuum and low gravity combine

to new precision in devices and tools New tools mean new products…new

products require new documentation

NEW METHODOLOGY

Google Glass Epson Moverio BT-200 Microsoft HoloLens Oculus Rift Virtual Reality Docs Are Already a

Reality

WE ARE ON THE BLEEDING EDGE

We explain things, but it is only the new that requires explanation.

This puts us on the bleeding edge of technology at all times.

But if you’re on the edge, it’s too easy to focus on the abyss beyond.

WE EXPLAIN THINGS

People will always need explanations.